Telescoping gymnasium seating units



June 25, 1968 w. E. DRI-:HOBL 3,389,511

TELESCOPING GYMNASIUM SEATING UNITS Filed March 8, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet June25,1968 WEDRHOBL 3,389,511

TELESCOPING GYMNASIUM SEATING UNITS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 8. 1966 June 25, 1968 w. E. DREHOBL TELESCOPING GYMNASIUM SETING UNITS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Maren e. 196e @WEL June 25, 1968 w. E. DREI-leal.

ATELESCOFING GYMNASIUM SEATING UNITS 4 Sheets-Sheet. 4

Filed March 8, 1966 United States Patent O 3,389,511 TELESCOPING GYMNASIUM SEATING UNITS William E. Drehobl, Kalamazoo, Mich., assignor to Brunswick Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 8, 1966, Ser. No. 532,725 8 Claims. (Cl. 52-9) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A telescopic bleacher construction which includes a plurality of movable upright frames nested one in the other beginning with a forwardmost frame until the bleacher construction is fully telescoped. Lower horizon- `tal support members are rigidly mounted to and extend forwardly from each of the upright frames. The support members have side walls in close parallel relation to the side walls of the adjacent support member when the construction is fully telescoped and move with their respective upright frames from the fully telescoped position to an extended position with the support members positioned in successively rearwardly adjacent relation to each other. Complementary catch members extend away from each of the adjacent side walls of adjacent support members and face each other at similar acute angles with the respective side walls of adjacent support members so that movement of the upright frames from the fully telescoped position will cause the catch members to be successively engaged and prevent relative lateral 4movement of adjacent upright frames. Means are provided to lock the forwardmost upright frame and the adjacent upright frame immediately to the rear of the forwardmost frame in an extended position, and a brake ,member is mounted on the forwardmost upright frame and movable into engagement with the subjacent floor to lock the forwardmost frame thereto. A kickboard is pivotally mounted at the front end of the forwardmost frame and movable between a normally downwardly depending position to an elevated position. Link means are provided between the kickboard, the lock means, and the brake member such that movement of the kickboard to its elevated position moves the brake member out of engagement with the floor and also unlocks the forwardmost frame member with the immediately adjacent frame member to the rear thereof.

Backgronnd of the z'nvenlzon A common practice in school gymnasiums and similar auditoriums is to install retractable telescoping lbleacher constructions. These constructions ordinarily are comprised of a plurality of movable, upright frames or sections respectively sized to nest one within the other when fully telescoped. The rearmost upright frame or section is ordinarily fixed to the auditorium wall while the remaining frames are movable inwardly and outwardly relative to the wall to shift the structure from such fully telescoped position to an extended position in which the upright frames or sections are positioned successively in a forwardly extended adjacent relation to each other. The sections carry suitable seatboards and footboards in suitably spaced relation to provide a tier like seating structure. Because of the space requirements and limitations, as Well as the varied activities conducted in such auditoriums of the present day crowded educational plants, it is frequently necessary (several times a day in some schools) to maneuver the bleacher structure into and out of its proper extended position on the gymnasium floor. Due to the numerous parts which make up such a retractable seating structure, the maneuvering procedure to move these telescoping bleachers is rather laborious and time consuming because of the fact that most of the rice bleacher structures presently used can bind and shift laterally during opening and closing movements, in addition to the fact that such problems are normally the result of employing numerous complicated and cumbersome locks, latches, catch means, and other movable parts.

Summary of the invention:

It is the object of this invention to provide a bleacher construction comprised of relatively simple, easily operable components.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improved retractable bleacher structure which facilitates a direct tight connection between. adjacent movable sections without the need for expensive glide arrangements.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a bleacher construction of the character described including a catch means preventing lateral movement of one upright frame relative to an adjacent frame when the catch means are engaged.

It is still another object of this invention to eliminate the frictional resistance inherent in continuous slide or roller connections by eliminating the contact between the sections for a substantial portion of their telescopic movement, and therefore eliminating potential binding between the adjacent sections.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bleacher structure of the character described which includes an improved friction brake device secured to the forwardmost upright frame and operable by raising the front kickboard.

It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a locking member between the forwardmost upright frame and the immediately adjacent frame to the rear thereof, the locking member being connected to the friction brake so that it is released (along with the brake) on raising the front kickboard.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through a four tiered telescopic bleacher construction employing the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lower horizontal support assembly to fully illustrate the novel complementary catch members and locking members with a portion of the upright frame cut away for illustration;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along the line 3 3 in FIG. l through one lower support member and showing in elevation the front of the immediately adjacent support member to the rear thereof with the upright frames cut away for illustration;

FIG. 4 is -a partial vertical sectional view of the bleacher construction of FIG. l illustrating the first tier thereof on an enlarged scale to more fully illustrate the kickboard in its normally downwardly depending position with the friction brake engaging the floor;

F IG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 4 showing the kickboard in an elevated position and the friction brake raised from the floor;

FIG. 6 is a plan view taken generally along the line 6 6 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view taken generally along the line 7--7 of FIG. 4 showing the center of the forwardmost tier out away for illustration.

Detailed description of the invention While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail an embodiment of the invention together with modifications thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplilication of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to FIG. l, the invention is illustrated herein as embodied in a telescoping bleacher structure generally comprised of a plurality of movable sections each including upright frames a through 10c, having upper horizontal support members 12a-12C, respectively, and lower horizontal support members 14a-14e, respectively, rigidly mounted thereto and extending forwardly therefrom. A plurality of seatboard-skirtboard combinations 16a through 16C are mounted on the forward portion of each of the upper horizontal support members 12a through 12C, respectively, so that the skirtboard portion thereof is substantially flush with the front edge of the upper support member (see skirtboard portion 16a' and upper horizontal support member 12a). A hook portion 18 may be provided along the lower edge of the skirtboard portion to hook over the front edge of the upper support member to absorb rearward forces in the direction of arrow A, FIG. l. A plurality of footboards 20a through 20c are mounted on top of the upper support members intermediate the respective seatboard combinations and the immediately adjacent upright frames to the rear thereof, thus forming a tiered bleacher construction having telescoping sections movable in relation to each adjacent section from a fully telescoped position to an extended position (FIG. 1). For instance, the forwardmost section comprised of upright frame 10c, upper horizontal support member 12e, lower horizontal support member 14e, seatboard combination 16e, and footboard 20c, form a bleacher section which nests in the immediately adjacent bleachersection to the rear thereof which is comprised of upright frame 10b, upper support member 12b, lower support member 14b, etc., and so on until the bleached sections are successively moved to their fully telescoped position. The height of the seatboard-skirtboard combination is such that the seatboard will pass under the upper horizontal support member of the bleacher section immediately to the rear thereof. Skirtboard panels 22a through 22e may be secured to each of the upright panels 10a through 10c, respectively, above the respective upper horizontal support member extending forwardly thereof.

The bleacher construction is provided with a first tier locking device, generally designated 24 (FIG. l), and a locking device 26 for each of the successive bleacher sections to the rear of said rst tier. The only difference in the locking devices (hereinafter described) is in the method by which they are tripped on movement of the respective bleacher sections to their fully telescoped position.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 6 best illustrate the means by which a direct tight connection is accomplished between adjacent bleacher sections to positively prevent lateral movement of one section as a separate action from an adjacent section during their travel toward and away from their fully telescoped position. Referring to FIG. 2, the lower horizontal support member (illustrated as No. 14 therein) is comprised of an inverted channel shaped member having an upper web portion 28a and downwardly depending leg portions 28h and 28e which form parallel side walls which, in the combined bleacher structure, are in close parallel relation to the side walls of each adjacent lower horizontal support member. Rollers 29 are mounted on suitable axles disposed between the side walls of the lower support member at the front and rear ends thereof. Cooperating complementary mating catch members 30 are mounted at the rear of the outer side wall 28C and at the front of the inner side wall Zb. The catch members are in horizontal alignment so that they will become engaged when the bleacher sections are moved to their extended positions. The catch members are comprised of a tab or tongue 30 secured to and extending away from each side wall. The forward tab faces rearwardly at an acute angle with side wall 28b and the rear tab faces forward at a similar angle with side wall 28o. As the first tier of the bleacher construction is moved outwardly from its fully telescoped position, the tab secured to the rear of the forward support member 14e will become engaged with the tab secured to the front of the immediately adjacent support member 1411 to the rear thereof in a manner illustrated in FIG. 6 and so on to successively move the respective bleacher sections from their fully telescoped position. It can be seen in FIG. 6, that by positioning the complementary catch means or tab 30 in such a manner that they face in opposite directions at an acute angle with their respective side walls, a direct tight connection between adjacent lower support members is accomplished without employing a single complicated or expensive roller or glide arrangement. The inner surfaces of the tabs positively prevent lateral movement (in the direction of arrow B) of one bleacher section as a separate action from the immediately adjacent bleacher section. Each bleacher section successively completes its forward movement to a point of engagement of the angled tabs to maintain a constant dimensional relationship with its immediately adjacent section and therefore assist in both straight line maneuvering and ease of operation. The ease of operation is further enhanced by eliminating frictional resistance between adjacent sections since there is no Contact between the tabs for a substantial portion of the telescoping movement. Such an arrangement eliminates potential bind or hangup points since the rows will extend in sequence from rst to last as there is no indirect transfer of pulling force between non-adjacent sections.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5 and 7, the rst section of the bleacher construction is provided with a friction brake means comprised of a rubber friction pad 32 secured to a ange 34 (FIG. 7) at the lower edge of a lever arm 3e pivotally mounted on axle 38 of the forwardrnost roller 29. The lever arm is connected by appropriate linkage (hereinafter described) to a kickboard 49 which is pivotally mounted to the forwardmost upper horizontal support member so that the kickboard is movable clockwise from a normally downwardly depending position (FIG. 4). In this position the friction brake pad 32 engages oor 42 and the front roller is raised off the floor so that the rubber brake pad 32 absorbs all of the vertical force of the first tier of the bleacher to provide a friction brake. The kickboard 4t) is movable to an elevated position (FIG. 5) whereby lever 36 through appropriate linkage (hereinafter described) is pivoted about point 38 to elevate the brake pad 32 and lower the roller into engagement with the floor so that the bleached construction can be rolled to its fully telescoped position. Referring to the drawings in greater detail, a vertical plate 44 (FIG. 7) is fixed to the inside of the upper horizontal support member 12e and depends downwardly therefrom. A first bracket 48 is pivotally mounted as by a rivet 49 to plate 44. The kickboard 4t) is mounted to bracket 48 as by bolts Sli so that the kickboard is mounted to the vertical plate 44 and pivots about rivet 49. Thus, it can be seen that the lever arm 36, attached to the brake pad 32, is movable about a xed pivot point (axle 38) and the kickboard 40 is also movable about a xed pivot point (rivet 49). A generally horizontal connecting bar 52 is pivotally mounted as by rivet S4 at its right end to the upper portion of brake lever 36 and is pivotally mounted as by rivet 56 at its left end to a second bracket 58 mounted to the kickboard 46 as by bolts 60.

To operate the brake means, it can be seen from FIGS. 4 and 5 that kickboard 40 is pivoted clockwise, about rivet 49, from its normally downward brake position (FIG. 4) to an elevated position which will cause the connecting bar 52 (mounted at its left end to the kickboard) to move with the kickboard clockwise about pivot 49 causing brake lever arm 36 (connected to the right end of the connecting bar) to pivot counterclockwise about axle 38. As the lever arm is so pivoted, the brake pad 32 (secured to the lower portion of the lever 36) is elevated out of engagement with the floor 42. It can readily be seen to one skilled in the art that a tremendous mechanical advantage is facilitated by this construction since the kickboard provides a relatively long moment arm between its outer swinging edge 60 to pivot point 49. The force applied to the edge of the kickboard is transferred through connecting bar 52 to the upper end of brake lever arm 36 which itself has a relatively long moment arm between such upperend and pivot 38 to elevate the brake pad out of engagement with the lloor.

` The locking means 24 and 26 are substantially similar except for the tripping means associated therewith and as hereinafter described. Referring to FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, both locking means 24 and 26 are comprised of a generally horizontal tab 64 extending away from the front end of the inner side wall 28b of the lower horizontal support members, and a locking finger 66 pivotally mounted on the other side of the lower support member at the rear thereof as by a mounting bracket 68 and rivet 69. The locking linger moves in a vertical plane parallel to and closely alongside the outer side wall ZSC of the support member. The lower edge of the locking finger 66 rests on top of tab 39 and is provided with a notch 70 disposed forward of tab 30 to receive tab 64 of the adjacent supporting member by loosely embracing tab 64 when the adjacent members are in their extended position, as hereinafter described. The locking finger is also provided with a camming surface 72 disposed at a forwardly and upwardly inclined angle in horizontal alignment with tab 64 to deect the finger upwardly on engagement with the tab 64. As the first upright frame is pulled out from its nested position and as it nears the end of its forward travel in relation to the adjacent frame to a point where the camming surface 72 of the locking nger 66 engages the horizontal tab 64, the locking finger is deflected upwardly clockwise about rivet 69 (as seen in an exaggerated position in FIG. 5) continued forward travel of the section will cause the complementary catch members 30 to become engaged (FIG. 6) whereupon the locking finger 66 will descend by gravity to a point where the notch 70 embraces the tab 64 of the adjacent bleacher section and positively lock the adjacent sections, preventing forward or rearward relative movement therebetween.

Referring to FIG. 6, provision is made for an initial field adjustment of the locking linger 66 in order to insure precise engagement with tab64. Manufacturing tolerances or other causes may result in a slight discrepancy between the position of tab 64 on one upright frame and notch 70 on the locking finger of the adjacent upright frame. In order to adjust the linger 66 and thus the position of notch 70, the mounting bracket 68 is provided with elongate slots 74 which receive bolts 75 securing the mounting bracket to the lower support member. Thus, the bracket may be adjusted in the direction of movement of the upright frames by loosening the bolts and sliding the bracket to position the locking finger notch 70 in relation to tab 64 on the adjacent frame, and then -retighten the bolts.

The first tier locking means 24 is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 and includes a generally vertical downwardly depending metal plate 76 pivotally mounted at its upper end on rivet 69 on the inner side of the lower horizontal support member 14C. A connecting rod 78 extends generally longitudinally along the inner side of the lower horizontal support member. The rod is connected at its rear end to the lower end of plate 76 and is connected at its forward end to the brake lever 36 as by rivet 80 which is spaced from the levers pivot point, axle 38. Thus, as the kickboard 4t) is elevated to pivot brake lever arm 36 counterclockwise about point 38 (as above described) the connecting rod 78 will move to the left in FIG. 6 causing plate 76 and locking finger 66 to pivot clockwise about rivet 69 to free tab 64 (secured to the adjacent bleacher section) and therefore permit the first bleacher section to be telescoped into the adjacent bleacher section to the rear thereof. The rear end of the connecting rod 78 is provided with a longitudinal slot 82 which provides a `lost motion device, so that the locking finger 66 of the first locking device 24 can move independent of the connecting rod 78 when the sections are locked during their extending forward movement.

In order to trip each successive locking means 26 to the rear of the first tier, the generally horizontal locking fingers 66 are provided with trip fingers 84 extending generally vertically upward from the front edges thereof. Since the first bleacher section is nested centrally within the second bleacher section and so on successively to the rear 0f the bleacher construction and by providing a skirtboard 22C which extends laterally across the entire bleacher structure, the skirtboard 22C, during its rearward travel toward the fully telescoped position of the bleacher construction, will successively engage the tripping lingers 84, as illustrated in FIG. 1 by the dotted lines showing in phantom the position of the kickboard 22e engaging the tripping finger S4 adjacent the upright frame 10b.

FIG. 7 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the sliding engagement between the forwardly extending upright support members and the top of the adjacent upright frame of the bleacher section immediately to the front thereof. A guiding channel member 86 secured to the top of upright frame 10c loosely embraces the upper horizontal support member 12b and guides its respective bleacher section during its folding and unfolding travel.

It is to be understood that the above described catch means, locking means and brake means may be employed on both sides of the bleacher structure as seen in FIG. 7 and as indicated by primed numerals.

Operation When the bleacher construction of this invention is in its fully telescoped position, the movable bleacher sections are respectively sized to nest one in the other with the front kickboard 4@ in its normally downwardly depending position and the friction brake pad 32 frictionally engaging the oor to maintain the bleacher in such closed position. From this position, with each bleacher section comprised of the upright frames and the horizontal support members nested side by side, the lirst section may be pulled out from the stack by grasping the kickboard 40 at its lower edge and pivoting it upward about rivet 46, raising the friction brake pad 32. As the first section is pulled out and as it nears the end of its.I forward travel in relation to the adjacent section immediately to the rear thereof, the catch member 39, attached to the outer wall of the horizontal support member at the rear thereof, engages the complementary catch member attached to the inside wall at the front end of the second lower horizontal support member of the second bleacher section. Continued pulling moves the first and second bleacher sections forward until the catch means attached to the outside of the second lower horizontal support member at the rear end thereof engages the tab on the inside front end of the third lower horizontal support member. This sequence repeats for each succeeding bleacher section until all sections are in their extended open position forming a tiered seating structure.

As each section is pulled out, the locking finger 66 attached to the rear of the first lower horizontal support member snaps into locking engagement with the horizontal tab 64 mounted on the front end of the second lower horizontal support member. This action repeats for each succeeding bleacher section. until all rows are extended aud locked in the extended position preventing relative forward or rearward movement between adjacent "7 l bleacher sections. In the extended position, the front kickboard di) may be lowered to its normally downwardly depending position so that the brake pad 32 frictionally engages the lioor d2 locking the bleacher construction in its extended position.

To telescope the unit into its retracted nested position, the front kickboard rit) on the rst bleacher section is again raised to disengage the locking pad 32 from engagement with door i2 and also to trip the first locking means 2,4 by moving connecting rod 78 to the felt (FIG. 5). As the first section is nested into the second section, and the second into the third, and so on during the rearward travel of the bleacher sections, the forwardmost skirtbsard 22e, secured to the first upright frame lc, makes contact with the trip lingers S4 of each succeeding locking means 2e tilting it upward until it is disengaged from the locking tab e4 of the adjacent bleacher section. This tripping action repeats as each succeeding bleacher is telescoped, resulting in a sequence telescoping action bcginning with the first row to the last row to the fully closed position. The kiclaboard may again be lowered, locking the bleachers in such fully closed telescoped position.

l claim:

1. A telescopic bleacher construction including a plurality of movable upright frames respectively sized to nest one in the other beginning with a forwardmost frame until said bleacher construction is fully telescoped, comprising: a locking mechanism for locking said forwardmost upright frame and an adjacent upright frame immediately to the rear of said forwardmost frame in an extended position; a brake means mounted on said forwardmcst upright frame to lock said forwardmost frame to a subjacent floor whereby said telescopic bleacher construction is locked in its extended position; a kickboard pivotally mounted at the front end of said forwardmost frame and movable between a normally downwardly depending position to an elevated position; and connecting link means between said kickboard, said brake means, and said locking mechanism whereby movement of said kickboard to its elevated position moves said brake means out of its locking relationship with said oor and unlocks said lock mechanism so that said forwardmost frame member may be nested in the immediately adjacent upright frame to the rear thereof.

2. A telescopic bleacher construction including a plurality of movable upright frames respectively sized to nest one in the other beginning with a forwardmost frame until said bleacher construction is fully telescoped, cornprising: a lower horizontal support member rigidly mounted to and extending forwardly from each of said upright frames in close parallel relation to each adjacent lower horizontal support member when in such fully telescoped position, said support members being movable with its respective upright frame in relation to each adjacent support member from such fully telescoped position to an extended position in which the lower horizontal support members are positioned in successively rearwardly adjacent relation to each other; a locking finger pivotally mounted at the rear end of the forwardmost horizontal support member; a lock bar mounted at the forward end of an adjacent horizontal support member immediately to the rear of said forwardmost horizontal support member and adapted for engagement with said locking nger to lock said support members in an extended position; a kickboaid pivotally mounted at the front end of said orwardmost frame and movable between a normally downwardly depending position to an elevated position; a brake member pivotally mounted on said forwardmost upright frame and movable into engagement with a subjacent door to frictionally lock said forwardmost frame thereto whereby said telescopic bleacher construction is locked in its extended position; means dcning a connecting Iinlt between said kicltboaid and said brake member; and means defining a connecting link between said brake aasii member and said locking finger whereby movement of said liickboard to its elevated position moves said brake member out of frictional engagement with said door and pivots said locking finger out of engagement with said lock bar so that said forwardmost frame member may be nested in the immediately adjacent upright frame to the rear thereof.

3. A telescopic bleacher construction including a plurality of movable upright frames respectively sized to nest one in the other beginning with a forwardmost frame until said bleacher construction is fully telescoped, comprising: a locking linger pivotally mounted at the rear end of said forwardmost upright frame; a loci; bar mounted at the forward end of an adjacent upright frame immediately to the rear of said forwardmost upright frame and adapted for engagement with said locking linger to lock said upright frames in an extended position; a kickboard pivotally mounted at the front end of said forwardmost frame and movable between a normally downwardly depending position to an elevated position; a brake member pivotally mounted on said forwardmost upright frame and movable into engagement with a subjacent floor to frictionally lock said forwardmost frame thereto whereby said telescopic bleacher construction is locked in its extended position;

f means dening a connecting link between said ltickboard and said brake member; and means dening a connecting link between said brake member and said locking linger whereby movement of said kickboard to its elevated position moves said brake member out of frictional engagement with said oor and pivots said locking nger out of engagement with said lock bar so that said forwardmost frame member may be nested in the immediately adjacent upright frame to the rear thereof.

4. A telescopic bleacher construction including a plurality of movable upright frames respectively sized and movable to nest one in the other beginning with a forwardmost frame until said bleacher construction is fully telescoped, comprising: a lower horizontal support member rigidly mounted to and extending forwardly from each of said upright frames and having parallel side Walls in close parallel relation to the side walls of each adjacent horizontal support member when in such fully telescoped position, said support members being movable with its respective upright frame in relation to each adjacent support member from such fully telescoped position to an extended position in which the lower horizontal support members are positioned in successively rearwardly adjacent relation to each other; and means defining a mating interengaging surface extending away from each of said adjacent side walls of adjacent horizontal support members and facing each other at similar acute angles with the respective side walls of adjacent support members whereby movement of said upright frames from such fully telescoped position will cause the facing surfaces of said lastnamed means to become successively engaged thereby preventing relative lateral movement of adjacent upright frames.

5. A telescopic bleacher construction including a plurality of movable upright frames respectively sized and movable to nest one in the other when fully telescoped, the improvement which includes means deiining a mating interengaging tongue extending away from each upright frame in alignment with and facing the tongue of the adjacent frame at similar acute angles with the direction of movement of said upright frames whereby movement of said upright frames from such fully telescoped position will cause the facing tongues of adjacent upright frames to become successively engaged thereby preventing relative lateral movement of adjacent upright frames.

6. The bleacher construction of claim 5 wherein said upright frames include means defining an inner side wall and an outer side wall, and wherein one of said mating tongues is mounted at the forward ond of said inner side wall and a mating tongue is mounted at the rear end oi said outer side Wall whereby movement of said upi'iglil frames from such fulIy telescoped position will cause the tongues at the rear of the outer side wall of each upright frame to become engaged with the tongue at the front of the inner side wall of an adjacent upright frame to successively move said upright frames from their nested fully telescoped position to an extended position.

7. A telescopic bleacher construction including a plurality of movable upright frames respectively sized and movable to nest one in the other beginning with a forwardmost frame until said bleacher construction is fully telescoped, comprising: a lower horizontal supp-ort member rigidly mounted t-o and extending forwardly from each of said upright frames and having parallel side walls in close parallel relation to the .side walls of each adjacent horizontal support member when in such fully ytelescoped position, said support members being movable with their respective upright frames in relation to each adjacent support member from such `fully telescoped position to an extended position in which the lower horizontal support members are positioned in successively rearwardly adjacent relation to each other; and cooperating complementary catch mem-bers mounted in horizontal alignment on each side wall of each horizontal support member and spaced 'apart in the direction of movement of the upright frames, said catch members comprising a tongue secured to and extending away from one such side wall of each support member and facing rearwardly `at an acute angle with said one side wall, and a mating tongue secured to and extending away from the other side wall and facing forwardly toward said one catch member and at a similar acute angle with said side wall whereby continued movement of said upright frames from such fully telescoped position will cause the facing tongues of adjacent horizontal support members to become successively engaged thereby preventing -relative lateral movement of adjacent horizontal support members.

8. A telescopic 4bleacher construction including a plurality of movable upright frames respectively sized and movable to nest one in the other beginning with a forwardmost frame until said bleacher construction is fully telescoped, comprising: a lower horizont-al support member rigidly mounted to and extending forwardly from each of said 'upright frames and having parallel side walls in close parallel relation to the side walls of each adjacent -horizontal support member when in such fully telescoped position, said support members being movable with their respective upright frames in relation to each adjacent support member from such fully telescoped position to an extended position in which the lower horizontal support members are positioned in successively rearwardly adjacent relation to each other; cooperating complementary catch members comprising a catch member mounted in horizontal alignment on each side wall of each 'horizontal support member and spaced apart in the direction of movement of the upright frames, said catch members being .adapted to catch such that continued movement of the forwardrnost frame from 4such fully telescoped position will cause said complementary catch members of 4adjacent horizontal support members to become successively engaged to successively move said upright frames from their nested fully telescoped position to their extended position; a locking nger pivotally mounted at the rear end of the horizontal support member of the forward'most upright frame; a lock bar mounted at the forward end of the horizontal support member of the adjacent upright frame immediately Ito the Irear thereof, said locking finger having means embracing said lock bar to lock said support members in an extended position when their respective catch members are engaged; a kickboard pivotally mounted on said forwardmost upright frame at the forward end thereof and movable from a normally downwardly depending position to an elevated position; a brake means pivotally mounted on said forwardmost frame and movable into locking engagement with a subjacent door; means `defining a connecting link between said kiekboard and said brake; and means defining a connecting link between said brake means and said locking finger of said forwardmost frame whereby pivotal movement of said kickboard from its normally downwardly depending position to its elevated postion pivots said brake means out of locking engage-ment with said oor and also pivots said locking linger out of engagement with said locking bar to permit said forwardmost frame to be nested in said adjacent upright frame to the rear thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,815,541 12/1957 Lappn et al. 52-9 2,870,492 1/ 1959 Chervenka 52-9 3,157,916 11/1964 Puestow 52-8 OTHER REFERENCES Safway Spectator Seating, A.I.A. File No. 3543-11, 1959, pages 4, 5.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primm-y Examiner.

C. G. MUELLER, Assistant Examiner. 

